Basic Russian Words for Travel in Russia

If you are planning a trip to Russia, you need to make an effort to
prepare yourself. It is advisable that you learn some basic Russian
terms.

Russia is a unique and amazing country.
Having lived there for a year, I can tell you it is like nothing you
will experience in Europe or anywhere else. The culture is entirely
different as is the language. The language, in particular, is the first
hurdle you will face.

The Russian language
is based on the Cyrillic Alphabet. From the sound of individual letters
to their combined essence, everything is different than what you are
used to. If you try to wing it, you are going to be in for big trouble.
To help you out, here are some basic words and phrases you should know.

The first phrase I mastered while in Russia was "ya ne gavaru
puruski." This phonetic mess can be translated to "I don't speak
Russian." Trust me, you should learn this. I became so good at ripping
it off that many people thought I actually spoke Russian, but was just
being a jerk!

"Privyet" is probably a familiar word. It means hello or hi
and is a common greeting. The phrase is pronounced easy at the
beginning and hard at the end: privYET. That being said, I mumble
constantly and nobody seemed to object to just about any pronunciation.

"Tak" is a word used to buy time or give the impression you
are thinking deeply. A Russian will often pause and say "tak, tak, tak"
and then respond. It is the equivalent of hmmm in the English language.
You can use it to sound intellectual or during negotiations over a
purchase.

"Nuzhnik" is one of those important Russian phrases.
It is an informal term used when trying to find a toilet. Keep in mind
this is very informal, as in "where is the can?" I don't know why, but
it just stuck in my mind.

Obviously, there are a few zillion different phrases of Russian
you will need at some point in your trip. At least now you can you say,
"Hi. I don't speak Russian..hmmm...I need to find the can!"

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of travel journals. Visit us to read more internet travel articles.

American citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport and visa to Russia. To make sure you get to see all the things you want to, schedule your Russia tours prior to your departure date.